December 29, 2011

• while walking ~ the pilgrim's assurance

  

  while walking through this dry, dusty land
  though your feet may scorch on desert sand
  reach for Christ's garment and clasp His hand
  take up God's whole armor, firmly stand

  while walking through fields fruitless and barren
  though all forsake, on Christ you can depend
  cry out, brother and sister, for heav'ns to rend
  trust God's spring rain to fall and refresh again

  while walking below as pilgrims here
  in all tribulation, be of good cheer
  our God guards us, both in front and rear
  He counts our tossings, stores all our tears

  while walking on this earth here below
  while in the tempest, tossed to and fro
  do not waver, be assured, o sparrows
  God is always for us, this we know

  while walking here in this lonely place
  expectantly plead to see His face
  in days of famine, feast on His abundance
  Christ shining brighter, from grace to grace

  Psalm 56
  1  Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
  all day long an attacker oppresses me;
  2  my enemies trample on me all day long,
  for many attack me proudly.
  3  When I am afraid,
  I put my trust in you.
  4  In God, whose word I praise,
  in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
  What can flesh do to me?
  5  All day long they injure my cause;
  all their thoughts are against me for evil.
  6  They stir up strife, they lurk;
  they watch my steps,
  as they have waited for my life.
  7  For their crime will they escape?
  In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
  8  You have kept count of my tossings;
  put my tears in your bottle.
  Are they not in your book?
  9  Then my enemies will turn back
  in the day when I call.
  This I know, that God is for me.
  10  In God, whose word I praise,
  in the LORD, whose word I praise,
  11  in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
  What can man do to me?
  12  I must perform my vows to you, O God;
  I will render thank offerings to you.
  13  For you have delivered my soul from death,
  yes, my feet from falling,
  that I may walk before God
  in the light of life.

  Proverbs 4:18
  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
  which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

  John 16:33
  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
  In the world you will have tribulation.
  But take heart; I have overcome the world.

  II Timothy 4:16-18
  At my first defense no one came to stand by me,
  but all deserted me.
  May it not be charged against them!
  But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me,
  so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed
  and all the Gentiles might hear it.
  So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
  The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed
  and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.
  To him be the glory forever and ever.
  Amen.

  for @dustysojourner and his wife, and all those saints who are God's fellow workers for the sake of the Gospel...

  And of Christ's fullness may we continue to receive, grace upon grace.
  ~ see John 1:16 ~

  ---

  Related:

  the laborer's lamentation and affirmation
  but not too hard with Me (calling, doubt & assurance)
  ML-J on depression in the ministry
  Bible Reading - Matthew 3 & 4: what we should expect after the baptism of the Spirit
  when man reaches the lowest depths of unbelief" (William Williams' "The Experience Meeting")
  Though the waves arose
  Habakkuk Hope: "Joy and Peace in Believing" by William Cowper
  In hope against hope believe, Blessed are all who believe
  Psalm 131 ~ Lord, calm my soul; Lord, wean my soul in this mephitic air | W.H. Hewitson
  Where do you go when the world is unlovely? (Psalm 84 & the theology of Biblical counseling)
  In darkest place
  He dawns on them like the morning light
  As the Visible Disappoints

  How can I be joyful weeping over Jerusalem? (Letter 50 on assurance & joy)
  Will you finish your course with joy? (Acts 20:24) - letter 71 on assurance & joy
  Are you a radiant Christian or a drunken old woman? (letter 82 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  Nehemiah's Song ~ "even here, even in the night seasons, even in the ruins" | letter 106 on joy
  O, soul, do not worry ~ seeking God in temptation & doubt | letter 120 on assurance & joy
  you are Mine, not of the world (ministry's temptation, sorrow & joy) | letter 122 on assurance & joy
  Fear not, little flock (Luke 12:32) | letter 123 on assurance & fighting for joy
  the pilgrim's Assurance ~ His Sovereign pouring | letter 110 on assurance & fighting for joy

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: I edited the photo found here, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desert_Qatar.JPG - which was PD.

  • 1:07 PM
  • 2 Comments